Monday newsletter time: Three more days, four more games, and the end for the Rangers

(AP photo/Ashley Landis)

This is what rock bottom looks like, at least for this season.

The Rangers have lost five in a row and were just swept in three games by the Angels, who aren’t good. The Rangers return home tonight for the final series of the season, four games in three days against the Yankees.

Chances are that Aaron Judge will hit his 62nd home run this week, yet another meaningful home run at Globe Life Field not hit by a Rangers player, and a season-ending nine-game losing streak is a real possibility.

At 66 wins, the Rangers have improved upon last season, but only marginally. When something goes right, something usually quickly goes wrong. When something goes wrong, not enough goes right.

The Rangers allowed six runs in the first inning Sunday en route to an 8-3 loss. Corey Seager hit his 33rd home run and Marcus Semien scored for the 100th time.

Martin Perez pitches tonight in the opener in what will be the final start of his terrific season. A doubleheader awaits Tuesday in what promises to be a really long day. The Rangers will be playing Wednesday afternoon like they have a flight to catch.

Well, they do. The final days of the 2022 season are upon them.

Cheap seats?

Seats in the outfield at Globe Life Field typically don’t cost an arm and a leg. For the final series, though, they do.

At least for the opener.

Six sections in left field were sold out on StubHub as of Sunday night, and seats in the remaining sections (excluding the opera seats high above the concourse) were going for $248 on the cheap end to $795.

Tickets for the right-field seats started at $108 on the low end and $231 on the high side.

All for the chance to catch Judge’s 62nd home run ball. Seats for the 1 p.m. game Tuesday aren’t too expensive — yet — and only one section in left field was sold out.

There’s a potentially massive payday coming if the lucky fan who catches No. 62 can safely get to an auction house. A fan in Toronto looked like he had just lost a fortune when he couldn’t haul in No. 61. That fan’s name, or so he says, is Frankie Lasagna. He owns an Italian restaurant.

He said he was going to give the ball back to Judge. And how could you not believe someone named Frankie Lasagna?

The look on his face, though, told a different story.

CRYING 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/KwuPuWjyhO

— Dynamics • £ (@theDYNAMICS) September 29, 2022

ICYMI …

Last weekend, a baseball source I trust noted that the Rangers are just playing out the string. He nailed it. Rangers Today is also awaiting the end of the season, so that our nights aren’t so late. But the news will be mounting quickly in the offseason, with the managerial search getting under way. Here’s hoping it’s a short one. Whatever happens will be covered here, for as little as $5.99 a month. Subscribe here to stay up to date. Need a sampling of the product. Here’s some of our latest, in case you missed it.

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T.R.’s Memoirs: Port Charlotte, in calmer days

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Subscribe to Rangers Today Baseball Podcast YouTube channel (for free)

Doggy video!

It’s Monday. Nuisances ahead. Enjoy. See you Tuesday.

When it's daddy dog's turn to babysit puppies…🐕🐶🐶🐾😅 pic.twitter.com/FHGuKtDHYO

— 𝕐o̴g̴ (@Yoda4ever) October 1, 2022

Jeff Wilson, jeff@rangerstoday.com